Improvement in door-plate and bell-alarm



WILLIAM G. BRADY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSE'ITS.v

Letters .Patent N 91,820, dated .Tune 29, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN DOOR-PLATE AND BELL-ALARM.

The Schedule referred td in these Letten Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it ma-y concern.:I

' former with the hinged door-plate closed, and the lat- -ter with it opened.

Figure S'represents that part of my apparatus which is connected with the inside of the door, showing in what manner it is applied.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of a portion of' the door above the plate, and a top view of my apparatus.

Figure 5, a central vertical section on the line A B of tig. 2.

This invention relates to that kind .of door-plates which are hinged or vpivoted to a frame, which, with the plate, covers a letter-drop, or opening through the door, for the reception of letters, and has for its object to provide not only for that convenience, but also for notifyingthe occupants of the house, or persons within,

whenever a letter has been left for them, or passed through the door.

In constructing and applying my invention, I provide a suitable frame, A, having raised ribs d, which form a rebate to receive the naine-plate.

This name-plate is hinged -or pivoted at its lower edge to the frame, and when closed it is retained by a spring-catch, c, and a hook-plate, g. The latter is fastened to the inside of the name-plate, as seen in figs. 2 and 5, and the formeris arranged to slide in a hollow hub, h, forming part ofthe top edge of the frame.

A spiral spring winds around the stem ofthe catch c, to actuate the same, to lock or fasten the plate when closed.

Vitbin the frame, and projecting from the face of the door or the raised surface B, is a spiral spring, C, 4which throws the nameplate open when the springcatch c is released from the hook-plate g. This is done by pressing downward on the head of the stem of the catch.

In g. 2 is seen a ring, D, connected with the end of a rod, 111, which passes through the door above the letter-chute N. In iigs. 3, 4, and 5, I have shown a bell, F, which'is fastened to the inner side of the door by a screw, e.

At a short distance from the bell, and opposite the door-plate, two braces, or stands G project, and between these two stands 'a pivoted rod, H, is hung.

Ou one end of -this rod isa hammer; I, directlyT in the range of the edge of the bell.

Between the bell and the stands 'a spiralspring, J, is connected with the rod H and, with thel door K.

The other end of the rod H is attached tcl a spiral spring, L, connected with the rod E, passing through the door.

The ring D provides for operating the rod E to strike the bell. p

When a letter is to be deposited or passed through the chute N, the head f of the stem ot' the springcatch is pressed downward, to releasethe'catch from the hook-plate g, when the spring C throws the lnameplate open; the letter is then passed through the chute, and a slight pull on the ring D draws the end Mof the rod H toward the door, carries the hammer' off from the bell, quickly releasing the ring.

,The spring J draws the hammer suddenly and forci bly into contact with the edge ofthe bell, thus giving v the alarm or signalto the occupants ofthe house.

The name-plate isthen closed, as shown in'fig. 1, which compresses the spring O, or forces it back ready to throw the plate open,iand at the same time brings the hook-plate g into holding-contact with the notched lower end n of the spring-catch, and secures the nameplate in position. (See iig. 1.)

Asia large portion of all mail-matter is delivered by letter-carriers, and as each carrier is expected to deliver a considerable number of letters in a given' time, necessity seems to demand some better facility for the delivery of mail-matter. 'Ilie ordinary mode of ringing a door-bell, and `then waiting the slow and uncertain motion of servants or others to answer the call, seems to be too great a sacriice of the time of the carrier, and as people are frequently annoyed by pedlers, distributers of circulars, andV others. they are liable to wait the second, third, or fourth call of the door-bell, which, if rung by the letter-carrier, is no small impediment to the performance of his task.

My invention provides a remedy for all such delays and their causes, for when the door-plate bell is sounded, it will be understood that some letter or 'mail-matter awaits some person within; the whole operation is performed in a few seconds, saving much time for the carrier, and dilivering the letter with reasonable'dispatch.

I do not claim a hinged or pivoted door-plate, nor do I claim a bell for calling the occupants of a house to the doorJ but What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Batent, is

The alarm-device, constructed as herein described, the pivoted door-plate, arrangedto cover or uncover aletter-chute made through the door', each part arranged to operate in connection with the other, as described and shown. l

WM. G. BRADY.

Witnesses: A

JOHN E. CRANE, ALVIN LAWRENCE. 

